Johnson, J. T. (John Thomas), 1869-1956

John Thomas Johnson was born in Belleville, Illinois in 1869. Johnson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois in 1906 and began graduate work in agricultural teacher training at the same institution. Johnson served as a teacher and administrator at Western Illinois State Normal School until 1912, when he was hired as the first Dean of Faculty and the Head of the Agriculture Department of the soon-to-open Kent State Normal School. Johnson helped to hire additional faculty and taught agriculture extension classes throughout the area until Kent campus facilities were built. Responsibility for overseeing the official opening of Kent State Normal School in the summer of 1913 fell to Johnson while Kent's President John McGilvrey was bed-ridden with typhoid fever. Johnson was a teacher and administrator at Kent from 1912 to 1917, at which time he left to teach at the Cleveland School of Education and later, Bowling Green State Normal College. Johnson returned to Kent in 1925 as Superintendent of the College Farm and Head of the Agriculture Department. Johnson continued to serve as the department head until 1939 when the department was eliminated. He also briefly served as professor of photography and official University Photographer between 1939- circa 1941 before retiring. Johnson died in 1956.

From the description of J.T. Johnson papers, 1865-1950 (bulk 1880-1930). (Kent State University). WorldCat record id: 664362672

John Thomas Johnson was born in Belleville, Illinois in 1869. Johnson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois in 1906 and began graduate work in agricultural teacher training at the same institution. Johnson served as a teacher and administrator at Western Illinois State Normal School until 1912, when he was hired as the first Dean of Faculty and the Head of the Agriculture Department of the soon-to-open Kent State Normal School.

Johnson helped to hire additional faculty and taught agriculture extension classes throughout the area until Kent campus facilities were built. Responsibility for overseeing the official opening of Kent State Normal School in the summer of 1913 fell to Johnson while Kent's President John McGilvrey was bed-ridden with typhoid fever. Johnson was a teacher and administrator at Kent from 1912 to 1917, at which time he left to teach at the Cleveland School of Education and later, Bowling Green State Normal College. Johnson returned to Kent in 1925 as Superintendent of the College Farm and Head of the Agriculture Department. Johnson continued to serve as the department head until 1939 when the department was eliminated. He also briefly served as professor of photography and official University Photographer between 1939- circa 1941 before retiring. Johnson died in 1956.

An obituary noted that Johnson's photographs had appeared in National Geographic and that he was a pioneer in color photography. Johnson Hall, a KSU student residence hall completed in 1956, is named in his honor.

From the guide to the J. T. Johnson papers, 1865-1950, 1880-1930, (Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.)